REEForest LIFE
REEForest LIFE aims to reverse the degradation of the endangered Cystoseira Habitat 1170 by implementing active restoration and setting up monitoring plans in 4 marine protected areas (Italy: Sinis Peninsula, Cilento National Park, Bergeggi Island; Greece: Gyaros island) where the causes of degradation have been addressed.
Macroalgal forests, one of the most productive and valuable habitats in the Mediterranean, are presently rapidly being lost because of direct and indirect human impacts. Due to their role in supporting biodiversity their loss is leading to a decline in critical ecosystem services and a reduction in the ability of the oceans to sequester carbon dioxide and contribute to climate change mitigation. For these reasons, prompt conservation and restoration efforts are needed, also in the context of UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).
Capitalizing outcomes of ROC-POP LIFE, the project will restore the ecological status in the target MPAs through the implementation of specific conservation measures and cost-effective/sustainable reforestation activities (i.e. ex-situ and in-situ recruitment enhancement). In addition, REEForest will provide concrete and robust methods that can be used to replicate and scale up restoration activities in other areas and with other species.
PROJECT PARTNERS
HELLENIC CENTRE FOR MARINE RESEARCH- INSTITUTE IF OCEANOGRAPHY (Contact Person Dr. Maria Salomidi, msal@hcmr.gr)
PARCO NAZIONALE DEL CILENTO VALLO DI DIANO E ALBURNI
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA
COMUNE DI CABRAS
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI PARTHENOPE
SHORELINE SC
ISTITUTO SUPERIORE PER LA PROTEZIONE E LA RICERCA AMBIENTALE
COMUNE DI BERGEGGI
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRIESTE
Budget: EUR 2,294,471
IO Budget: EUR 232.410
Duration: 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2026
Project website: https://reeforest.eu/